Flexible joint



Jan. l2 1926.

A. s. MACDONALD FLEXIBLE JovINT Filed .my 21. 1920 wick BY n A TTORNWIM/4 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS S. MACDONALD, OF GREAT NECK, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO SPICER MANUFACTURING CORPORATION7 OF SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NEW

JERSEY, A CORPORATION F VIRGINIA.

FLEXIBLE JOINT.

Application filed July 21, 1920. Serial No. 397,846.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGUs S. MAoDoN- ALD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and residing at Great Neck, county of Nassau, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlexibleJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to iiexible joints such as used, for example, inautomotive drive assemblies or other torque transmitting devices.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive joint of this character which has great strength` andrelatively long life. Another of the objects of the invention resides inthe provisition of an improved means for connecting the flexible torquetransmitting elements, such as discs, to the spider members on therespective shafts to be connected.

The foregoing, together' with such other objects as may hereinafterappear, I obtain by means of a construction which I have illustratedinpreferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a section through a shaft illustrating my improved joint inend elevation; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a section taken on the 'line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, one of the shafts to be connected isindicated by the reference numeral 7 and the other shaft by thereference numeral 8. Each shaft is provided with a spider 9 having aplurality of arms, feet or projections 10, preferably three in number,the spiders being so arranged that the feet are disposed at angles ofwith respect to each other. The flexible element in the embodiment shownconsists of one or more discs 11 composed of leather, rubberized fabric,cord or the like. The discs are connected to the respective spider feetin the following manner:

` I Vprovide a plurality of plates A, one for each spider foot, in thisinstance three of such plates being on one side of the disc and three onthe opposite face at intervals circumferentially around the disc. Asimilar number of plates B are located opposite the plates A ,and thepairs are secured together by means of a plurality of rivets 12 whichextend through the disc. Where more than one disc is used, spacingwashers, corresponding in shape to plates B, arelocated intermediatethediscs, such washers being indica-ted by the reference number 13. Therivets 12 also pass through these washers. The discs, plates, andwashers are assembled as a unit by placing them in a suitable press,adapted to apply the desired amount of pressure to secure a proper gripon the disc, after which the rivets l2 are put in place. In order tostrengthen the grip of the plates and washers on the disc, I prefer toroughen the plates and washers, as for example, by corrugating them orbeading them, as illustrated at 14. The rivets are preferably oval incross section, with the longest dimension extending parallel the line oftorque strain, this being a construction which is particularly valuablewhere,

fabric or corddises are employed, for the reason that in inserting therivets, the `fabric or cord will be thrust to one side and not broken,the amount of offset given being very small because of the shape of therivets. In this fashion the whole strength of the material is retainedwhile at the same time the plates and washers exert a firm grip upon thediscs. The plates and washers also extend across the full width of thediscs.

The plates A have a forked or channel shaped portion comprisinglaterally projecting torque transmitting engagement means at their outersides in the form of lugs 15 adapted to embrace the spider feet 10, andthey are secured to the spider feet by means of the bolts 16 in themanner illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that the discs and plates can be quickly assembledand secured together, and that the assembled flexible units can bequickly attached to the spiders. It will furthermore be seen that theattaching bolts are subjected to no appreciable strain, the thrustsbeing taken for the most part by the channel shaped portions 15 of theplates A. rl"he plates A being secured to the spider without penetrationof the disc by the attaching means, the joint will have greater strengththan is possible to Obtain in .the standard flexible joint in v Width,

which the discs are apertured to receive holding bolts which passthrough the spider l'eet, and this, together' with the feature ofgripping the discs across their full radial renders the devicepeculiarly adaptable to dises of the cord type, in which the structureof the discs would be materially weakened were any of the cords to bepierced or broken. rlhe rivets are relatively small and have theirgreatest strength in the line ol torque strain, in which conuection itis to be obsewed that the major portion7 if not all of the torquestresses are taken up by the plates and washers by reason of the irnigrip of the latter on the material.

Other advantages incident t0 my i1nprovelnents will be understood bythose skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a flexible joint, the combination of a spider, a flexible disc,and means 'for rounecting said disc, to the spider comprieing a pair ofplates on opposite liaras ot the disc and means lor securing the platesto gether, one of said plates haring a rl|annellike portion to enllnacethe spider.

2. In a flexible joint, the combination olf a spider, a flexible disc,meansl lor renner-M ing said disc with the spider, said means consistingo'lI a pair ot pressed niclal platea secured to the disc by rireling,one oil said plates carrying lateralljr projecting integral cars,adapted to be secured 1o the arm ol.5 ille spider.

In testimony whereof, l have lurenulo signed my naine.

ANGUS S. MACDONALD.

